Rural mail box



Nov. 9, 1937; c. l. HOLMES 2,098,242

'RURAL MAIL BOX Fiied May 15, 1935 2 sheets-Sheet 1 3&1.

Afforpelys.

C. l. HOLMES RURAL MAIL BOX Nov. 9, 1937.

Filed May 15, 193

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www Patented Nov. 9, 1937 UNITED STATESV f RURAL MAIL BOX Charles I. Holmes, Chino, Calif., assigner of onefourth to Roy Sebring, and one-fourth to Ernest n W. Super, both of Chino, Calif. v

Application May 15, 1935, serial No. 21,517

7 Claims.

My invention resides in a rural mail box, having a so-oalled owners signal and mail carriers signal and also a pocket forming device having holding appliances for letters to be collected by the mail carrier.

' A feature of the signals of my present application may be considered as an improvement on or further development of my patent application for Rural mail box, Serial No. 695,831, iiled October My invention in the present application relates to a combination of signals and a holder or pocket structure for letters to be collected by the mail carrier, in which the pocket or letter holder structure is mounted on the inside oi" the door of the box and the owners and mail carriers signal are set and controlled in actuation either by the opening of the door or by releasing a detent to actuate one of the signals.

In regard to the signals, an object and feature of my invention is in providing a mail carriers signal which may be set by the owner when he deposits letters in the pocket of the door to signal the mail carrier to call for the letters. Then due to an interconnection between the carriers signal and the door, when the carrier opens the door to secure the letters in the pocket, the carriers signal is automatically released and by a gravity action returns to its inoperative or non-signalling 30 position.

A further feature of my invention in the combination of signals is in employing an owners signal pivotally mounted on the side of the box, preferably opposite that having the carriers sig- 35 nal, the owners` signal being of a type so that it is normally latched in its inoperative position or non-signalling position; such owners signal being held inoperative principally by a pivoted catch. Therefore the mail carrier may open the door, unset the signal to himself and remove the mail without setting the owners signal should he deposit no mail in the box for the owner.

A further feature of my invention in regard to the owners signal, is in employing a latch releasing bolt slidably mounted on the door; this bolt having a iinger normally spring pressed to an inoperative position, whereby the door may be opened and closed without disturbing the catch for the owners signal. However, when the mail 50 carrier in opening the door to deposit mailfor the owner, desires to set the owners signal, he may give a pulling movementl to the bolt and hence the finger and displace the catch, whereby the owners signal by the action of gravity swings to its operative or exposed position. Further, this catch maybe operated by the owner when removing his mail from the box to reset the owners signal in its inoperative or non-signalling position.

yThus as to the signals, I provide acombination (o1. 2oz-35) by which the owner, should he put mail in the pocket ofthe door for the carrier to collect,may set his own signal as non-operative and set the carriers signal and then the carrier must release his signal on opening the door, either for collecting mail or for depositing mail in the box, but he may optionally set the owners signal or not, as he desires. For instance, if he deposits no mail in the box for the owner, he would not set the owners signal but it would remain as formerly set, inoperative.

A further object and feature of my invention in regard to the pocket for holding the letters or mail for collection by the mail carrier, Consists of resilient lingers secured to the inside of the door, the base of the ngers being preferably towards the hinge of the door, which hinge is usually horizontal andthe pocket is formed by a gate or flap hinged to the door by a pintle at right angles to the door hinge. This gate is normally maintained closed by a tension spring to form a socket or cover over the fingers and thus they protect any letters held by the ngers from exposure to rain orvwater which might possibly leak in through the door.

A further feature of my invention includes a flexible connection between the gate on the inside of the door and the box, whereby whenV the box door is opened, the gate is automatically opened, either for the owner to insert letters for collection or for the mail carrier to remove such letters when he opens the door. Thus the single operation of opening the door automatically opens the gate for insertion or removal of mail and on closing the gate is automatically swung to. its closed position against the inside of the door and thus forming a pocket covering the letters. l

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation taken in the direction of the arrow l of Fig. 3, showing the owners signal in non-signalling or inoperative-position and the carriers signal elevated or` exposed on the opposite side of the box.

Fig. 2 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing the catch in itsr released position to permit automatic setting of the owners signal in its operative position and indicating the door partly open with the carriers signal automatically swinging to its housed position.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation taken in' the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 1.

Figyl is avertical section onthe line 4 4 of Fig. 1, through the catch for the owners signal.

Fig. 5 is a vertical longitudinalA section on the lined-5 of Fig. 3 in the direction of the arrows, but with the door open, showing the gate of the pocket` to receive letters in its? open position.-

Fig. Gis a horizontal section on the line 6-1-6 of`1ig .l5` in the direction; ofthe arrows.y

Fig. '1 is a vertical transverse section on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6 in the direction of the arrows, but showing the gate on the door in its closed position. `v Y ,Y

In myfinvention the mail box is indicated by the numeral II, having opposite sides'l2 and I 3.; The box is rounded on the top I4 and hasrthe Y usual flat bottomA I5 with the usual raised oorV Y I6. The front of the box is open and is closed by a hinged door I1, the hinge I8being at the bottom of the box. The door has a iianged construction I9 and is held in the closed position by a latch 20, this being the usual'type.

Describing first the owners signal whichis designated by the assembly numeral 25, this has a signal arm 26 pivoted at 21 to the Vside I2 of the box and having a flag 28 extending outwardly at right angles Vto the axis of the box. The arm 26 has a long end 29 which is of suicient weight toV swing the arm on its pivot from its non-signalling substantially horizontal position of Fig. 1 to its signalling vertical position of Fig. 2. VVA friction cam strip 30 is secured adjacent the lower edge of the box to engage the end 29 of the arm when it swings downwardly and hold the arm from oscillating or'being brokenby the Wind.. Y

In order to hold the arm in its non-signalling position,.I employ aV catch 3I. This has a catch lever 32 pivoted at 33 to the side I2 of the box, the catch lever having a hook 34 on one side. The Ycatch normally rests on a bracket 35 secured to the side of the Vbox adjacent the door. The free end36 of the catch lever extends along one edge of the 'door and beyond the face of the door when the door kis closed. The end 36 of the catch is of sufficient weight so that when the end 29 is caught in the hook 34, the Weight of the catch holds the signal arm'in the inoperative position of Fig. 1. l

'. The latch boltV assembly .40 for releasing the catch employs a U'shaped bracket 4I on one side of the box with lower and upper shoulders 42 and 43, the upper shoulder being perforated. This is at one side of the door on its front adjacent the catch 3|. YOn the opposite side of the l front of the door there is a guide bracket 44'also perforated and at the center of theY door, preferably near the top there is a guiding eye 45. The latch bolt 46 has a nger grip end 41, a vertical section 48 passing through the eye 45, two horizontal sections 49, a depending section 50 extending through the perforations in the shoulder 43, a second depending sectiony 5| extending through the perforation in the bracket. A lateral finger 52 is preferably formed integral with the extension 50 and extends sidewise underneath the catch lever 32 slightly beyond the side of the box. A compressionspring 53 is coiled on the depending section 50 andA engages between the finger 52 and the shoulder 43; thus normally holding the latch bolt with its nger 52 depressed.`

The operation of the owners signal is substantially as follows; The ownerleaves Ythis inv the non-signalling position ofFig. '1, with the end 29 caught on the hook 34, then when the mail carrier wishes to Vopen the box to deposit mail he vpulls upwardlyon the nger grip 46, at the same time exerting a'pull'to openthe door. The upward movement of the latch bolt 46 elevates the iinger- 52 to raise the latch arm 32 from its horizontal position of Fig. 1 to its upwardly inclined position-'of Fig. 2. This movement is sufl'icient to allow the end 29 of the arm 26 to slip off the hook 34, the arm swinging by gravity to the vertical position ofgFig. 2. The

mail carrier then closes the door when leavingV the box and leaves the owners signal set, showing that mail has been deposited for him to receive.

`The carriers signal designated by the assembly numeral 55, employsan L-shaped arm 56. This has a 'flag 51 at the top and is pivoted at 58, preferably'to the sideV I3 of the box opposite the own- Y ers signal. The arm 56 has a forward extension 59 extending beyond the pivot 58 to engage a detent V6I) which is secured to the front of the .box and extends beyond the side I3 in a position to engage the end 59 and hold the signal ag 51 in the elevated position of. Fig. 1 when the door is in the closed position. A pin and slot connection 6I between the portion 59 of the arm 56 and the side I3 of the box, limits the pivoting movement of the signal 55 to its non-signalling position, illustrated dotted in Fig. 2.

The manner of functioning of the carriers signal55 is as follows: This is intended to be used only when the owner deposits letters or mail matter in the box for the carrier to collect. When he does so, in closing the door he lifts the flag into the position of Fig. 1 and engages the end 59 of the arm 5 6 underneath the edge of the detent 60. Then when the carrier stops to pick up this mail, in opening the door and swinging the detent 60 out of engagement with the end 59, the signal arm 56 pivots by gravity to its non-signalling position of Fig. 2 and when the carrier closes the door he leaves the signal in this position. It will thus be seen that there is a combinational connection through the medium of. the door between the owners signaland the carriers signal.

' The mailing pocket assembly designated by K the numeral 65 on the inside of the door, is constructed as follows, having reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7: A pair of resilient fingers 66 have each one endk 61'securedto the door on the inside; these ends being towards the bottom of the door, that is towards the hinge I8. The free ends 68 of the fingers are set olf by aspace 10 from the inside of the door. A weather strip 1I consists of an upper flange 12 to which is connected a cross member 13, the cross member being secured to the door and there are also two side flanges 14 and 15. These are of sufficient height to extend slightly beyond the space 10 of the iingers from the door.

A pivoted gate 16 has a flange 11 on the top extending across its full length and Va short ange 18 at the bottom. A pair of hinge ears 19 are secured to the inside of the door and a pintle pin 80 extends through the ears and through the fianges 11 and 18. A coiled tension of closing spring 8| is secured at one end 82 to the door and at the other end 83 to one of the ears 19. This spring is normally tensioned to swing the door to its closed position. On its free end the door has a.

flange 84 extending'over the flange 14 of the weather strip 1I. The upper fiange 11 of the door extends over the upper iiange 12 of the weather strip in a facing position on the door. A chain 85 has one end 86 secured to the door adjacent its lower edge and its other end 81 secured inside of the box at one side, this being at the side adjacent the hinge or pivot of the gate.

Themanner of operation and functioning of the mail pocket and its gate is as follows: Normally when the door of the box is closed, the iingers 66 occupy a vertical' position as shown dotted in Fig. 5 and the gate 16 is closedthis being closed by the coiled spring 8 I; the gate forming a cover or pocket for the letters. When the owner opens the door to place mail therein for collection, he swings the door from its vertical closed position, to its horizontal open position of Figs. 5 and 6. In this action the chain 85 swings the gate from its position adjacent and parallel to the door to its elevated open position at right angles to the door, in which case the gate extends substantially vertical as shown in Fig. 5. The owner then slips letters or the like in the space 'IU between the ngers and the door and closes the door when the gate automatically swings closed on the inside of the door; the flanges on the gate together with the weather strip forming a weather-proof covering for the mail left for collection.

An important characteristic of my invention in regard to facilitating the work of mail carriers, resides in the employment of the carriers signal operatively connected to the door to be retracted when the door is opened for the carrier to pick up mail and also that if he has no parcels to deposit he can readily withdraw the letters from the letter pocket 65 without fully opemng the door. Moreover, should he be required to insert large parcels in the box, the hinged gate automatically swings closed as the door is closed. Hence, although the gate stands in a vertical position when the door is opened to its full extent, nevertheless as the door closes the edge of the gate remote from its hinge does not enter the box, and thus a parcel the full length of. the box may be inserted without its interfering with the closing of the gate on the door.

Various changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device as described, the combination of a mail box having a hinged door at one end, an owners signal having a straight arm pivoted to one side of the box, a pivotally mounted catch on the side of the box having a hook to engage one end of the said arm and hold the arm in nonsignalling position, a latch bolt slidably mounted on the door, and a spring normally retaining said bolt in inoperative position, the bolt having a nger to engage the catch on manually operated movement of the bolt to actuate the catch to release the said arm, the arm being weighted to swing by gravity into a vertical signalling position.

2. In a device as described, the combination of a mail box having a hinged door, an owners signal having a straight signal arm pivotally mounted at the side of the box with a flag at the top, the opposite end being weighted, a pivotally mounted catch on the side of the box having a hook, the hook engaging the lower end of the arm and holding said arm in substantially horizontal position, the catch having a free end extending beyond the door when the door is closed, the door having guides, a latch bolt slidably mounted in said guides and having a laterally extending finger to engage the free end of the catch, and a spring means connected to the door and the bolt to retain the iinger in a lowered position, the bolt having means for elevating the nger to move the catch and release the owners signal, said signal swinging to a vertical position.

3. In a device as described in claim 1, the catch comprising a lever having its pivot between the door and the pivot of the owners signal arm, a supporting bracket on the side of the box to support the portion of the lever between its pivot and the outer portion of the box, the hook being positioned between the pivot of the catch lever and the bracket to engage the weighted end of the signal arm and to normally hold said arm in its inoperative position.

4. In a device as described in claim 2, the catch comprising a lever structure having its pivot between the door of the box and the pivot of the owners signal arm, a supporting bracket on the side of the box to limit the downward movement of the free end of the catch lever, the hook extending from one side of the lever and being positioned when the lever is supported by the bracket to engage the Weighted end of the signal arm and to hold said arm in its inoperative position, the said bracket normally holding the free end of the catch lever above the laterally extending nger of the bolt, whereby if desired the door may be opened without actuating the catch lever.

5. In a device as described, the combination of a mail box having a hinged door, guides on the door, a latch bolt slidably mounted in the guides, a catch lever pivotally mounted on the side of the box and having a free end positioned to be engaged by the latch bolt, a signal arm pivoted to the box, and interengaging means between the signal arm and the catch lever to normally hold said arm in a first position, the operation of the bolt actuating the catch lever to release the signal arm therefrom and the signal arm being Weighted, whereby on release it swings by gravity to a second position.

6. In a device as described, the combination of a mail box having a hinged door at one end, guides on the door, a latch bolt slidably mounted in said guides and having a laterally extending nger, a spring interacting between the bolt and the door to normally maintain the finger in its lowermost position, a catch lever pivoted to the side of the box and having a free end extending above the iinger, means to limit the downward movement of the lever to normally maintain the free end of the lever above the finger, a signal arm pivoted to the side of the box, means to interengage the arm and the catch lever to normally hold the signal arm in a rst position, the said latch bolt being movable to cause the finger to tilt the catch lever upwardly and release the signal arm therefrom, said arm being weighted to turn by gravity on its pivot to a second position, the door having a means for opening without actuatingv the bolt, whereby if desired the door may be opened while retaining the signal arm in its rst position.

7. In a device as described, the combination of a mail box having a door hinged at its lower end, an owners signal having an arm pivotally mounted on the side oi the box, a catch on the side of the box to engage one end of the arm and a movable bolt on the door to actuate the catch to release the arm, the arm being counter-Weighted to swing into a signalling position, the catch being pivoted to the same side of the box having the owners signal, a supporting device on the box to support the catch to hold the owners signal in a nonoperative position, the catch having a free end opposite its pivot to be engaged by the bolt on the door, the said bolt raising the catch above the supporting means for disengagement of the arm of the signal from. the catch.

CHARLESl I. HOLMES. 

